Gosford to lose 120 WorkCover jobs: union

More than 100 jobs with the WorkCover Authority of New South Wales based at Gosford on the state's Central Coast could be heading back to Sydney.

WorkCover staff were told yesterday that the number of directors at Gosford was being cut from five to one.

Workers were told one position was being cut and another three directors would be transferred to Sydney along with associated staff.

The Public Service Association estimates the change could involve up to 120 people.

The union's general secretary, John Cahill, says the decision will cause major disruption for workers.

"The reason why this is bizarre in our view is because around 10 years ago the whole operations of WorkCover were in Sydney and over a period the WorkCover Authority obtained new premises in Gosford and moved the whole of WorkCover up to Gosford," he said.

"People relocated, they built new houses up there, their kids go to school up there, their partners work up there.

"I recall at the time there was a lot of opposition from people who lived and worked in Sydney to the relocation to Gosford, but people accepted that and now they're being told that's going to be reversed.

"Those who want to continue to work in WorkCover will face a long commute now."

The Gosford City Council says the loss of jobs would be a devastating blow to the local economy.